Automatic dispenser attachment for washing machines



C. E. NIELSEN Aug. 9, 1960 AUTOMATIC DISPENSER ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24. 1957 2 z l. .w

I I mvsmon .M'lferr' Flare/me ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1960 AUTOMATIC DISPENSER ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed April 24. 195'! c. E. NlELSEN 2,948,437

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @w Rh I 715 AZ, 117 15 i AUTOMATIC DISPENSER ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING Clarence E. Nielsen, 5091 Peacock Lane,

Arlington, Calif.

Filed Apr. 24,1957, ser. No. 654,707

.4 Claims. (or. 222-401 This invention relates to a dispenser and has as its primary object the provision of a dispenser which is adapted to automatically deliver various substances, either solids, liquids or both to a washing machine at predetermined intervals during the operation thereof under the control of the conventional timing mechanism with which washing machines are usually equipped.

A particular object is to provide a washing machine appliance of the above character which is so constructed and operated as to feed to the machine a selection of several substances according to the requirement of each .of various washing operations, and to effect the delivery of the substances at proper intervals according to the timed operations of the machine, whereby stopping of the machine during the washing operation and the attendance of an operator in administering detergents and the like is obviated.

Another object is to provide a dispenser which em-. bodies a series of hoppers for the reception of various substances as selected by'the operator, wherein the hoppers are each equipped with a valved discharge outlet leading to acommon point of delivery to the washing chamber of a washing machine, and wherein the valves of theseveral discharge outlets are opened'by electromagnets energized at timed intervals relative to'each other through the medium of a timing switch applied to and actuated by the rotary shaft of the usual timing mechanism with which the washing machine is equipped.

Another object is to provide ,a slide valve arrangement controlling the discharge of materials from the dispensing hoppers embodying a construction whereby the valve is sealed so as to be effective in confining liquid as well as solids within the hopper when the valve is closed and until the valve is actuated to open the hopper to discharge.

A further object is to provide an assemblage in the dispenser which may be adapted to be applied as an attachment to washing machines now in use or as a builtin feature in the manufacture of the machine.

With the foregoing objects in view together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed, and as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the dispenser, as seen in front elevation partly in section:

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the cover removed:

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section and elevation of the.

discharge end of one of the dispensing units as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 4 is a detail in section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with portions broken away:

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view and plan and horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the dispensing mechanism and illustrating the mode of operation thereof:

' controlled:

ce I v Fig. 6 is a plan view of the timing element for controlling operation of the dispenser:

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation as seen in the direction ofthe arrow 7 in Fig. 6:.

Fig. 8. is-a diagrammatic view of the dispenser illustrating the electro-mechanical elements and electrical circuits thereof in association-with the timer of a washing machine whereby the'operation of the dispenser is Fig.9 is a detail in horizontal section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3 with portions brokenaway: and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view as seen on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9. p Referringto the drawings more specifically A indicates generally the housing of the dispenser which embodies a lower portion constituting a main hopper 9 including inclined walls 10 leading to an open discharge throat 11 here shown in Fig. 1 as projecting into the detergent intake 12 in the top wall of a washing machine.

The upper portion of the housing A extending above the hopper 9 is provided with a series of detergent dispensing units of any suitable number being here shown as four in number and designated respectively by the numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each of the dispensing units embodies a compartment B which opens at its upper end to the upper end of the housing A which latter may be closed as desired by a 'cover C adapted to be lifted to give access to the compartment B for delivery thereto of desired charges of detergents or other suitable material. I

The compartments'B each have a hopper D at the lower portion thereof having inclined side walls leading to a discharge outlet 14 opening into the hopper 9 and having a normally closed slide valve 15 operable to effect opening of the outlet 14 to discharge the contents of the hopper B into the hopper 9.

Each of the slide valves 15* is mounted for reciprocal movement in a pair of horizontally extending parallel guideways 16-16 mounted on the exterior of opposed side walls of the outlet 14 and is normally maintained in its advanced closed position by a pair of parallel pull springs 17-17 having their inner ends connected to parallel rods 18-18 attached to the slide valve and having their outer ends connected to the front wall of the housing A. V i

The springs 17-17 and rods 18-18 are axially aligned and the inner ends of the rods 18-18 are connected with the forward edge of the slide valve 15 adjacent the ends thereof and at points outside the inner face of the adjacent side wall of the outlet 14 so that when the slide valve is moved along the guideways 16-16 the rods 18-18 will be disposed in the channels of the guideways clear of the discharge outlet 14. i Means are provided for limiting advance movement 0 the slide valve 15 under the urge of the springs 17-17 which means is here shown as comprising a stop 19 against which the forward edge of the slide valve abuts when in its closed position. In order to cushion impact of the slide valve 15 against the stop 19 the latter is resilient, being here shown as comprising a block of hard but yieldable rubber or the like carried on a bracket 20 mounted on and projecting downwardly from aside wall of the hopper D as particularly shown in Fig. 3. -Means are provided for-independently retracting the several slide valves 15in opposition to the springs 17-17 to effect opening of the discharge outlets 1-4 which means is here shown as embodying a series of electro-magnets 2.1, there being one of such magnets for each of said slide valves having a core 22 connected to the rear margin ;of the slide valve intermediate theends thereof in hor i zontal alignment with the slide valve, the magnets being arrranged so that-on energization thereof the core 22 will be pulled so as to effect retnactive movement of the slide valve therewith. As a means for limiting such retractive movement of the slide valve'and also cushioning termination of its stroke, resilient bum'per' blocks 23-23 are mounted on the outer end portions of the rods 18-1'8 at their connection with the springs 17-17, which bumper blocks impact the outer ends of the guideways 16--16 when the slide valve reaches its retracted open position. I v

Inorder to permit full opening of the slide valve and attain impact of the bumper blocks 23, the magnet 21 and springs 17-17 are relatively powered so that the magnets will fully overcome the pull of the "springs. This impact of the bumper blocks is utilized to produce a jar on the lower end of the hopper D at the instant of full opening of the slide valve so as to insure dislodgement and discharge of the granular content of the hopper in event the materials become packed or-cling to the walls of the hopper. The slide valves 15 are designed when opened to be held open for an interval to permit complete discharge of the hopper content, as will presently appear.

Energization of the magnets 21 is timed and'controlled by a series of timing disks E mounted on the powered shaft F of the conventional main timer G of the washing machine to which the dispenser is applied and which timer G controls the usual consecutive washing operations of the machine commonly designated Pro-wash soak period, Wash period, First deep rinse period and Second deep rinse period; the timing disks B being here designated by the numerals 1 2 3 and 4 and arranged as'shown in Fig. 8 to actuate switches 1 2", 3 and 4 controlling the fiow of electric current to the magnets 21 associated with the dispensers 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The electric circuits involved embody the usual pair of conductors a-b leading from a source of electric current supply through a control switch to the terminals of a motor (not shown) in the main timer G for driving the timing shaft F. Leading from the conductor a is a conductor d connecting with one of the contacts e of the switches 1 2 3 and 4 through a fioat controlled circuit breaking switch H embodying a fixed contact g and a companion contact h on a float i which latter is arranged to be actuated by the rise and fall of the body of water i in the washing compartment of the washing machine and whereby the valve H serves to break the circuit to the switches 1 2 3 and 4 when there is little or no water in the washing compartment so as to-prevent delivery of materials from the hoppers D in the absence of a predetermined quantity of water in the machine.

Leading from the conductor b is a conductor k connecting with one terminal of each of the magnets 21, and leading from the other terminal of each of the magnets 21 is a conductor m which connects with a switch element It associated with and normally in open relation to the contact e of the several switches 1 2 3 and 4 The switch arms n are disposed adjacent the perimeters of the timing disks Eand the latter each have a peripheral projection p adapted to engage and depress and then release the adjacent switch arm n to effect closing and opening of the associated switch on each revolution of a disk The projections 12 are arranged on the several disks E in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, being here shown as located 90 apart so that on one to tation of the shaft F the disks E will effect successive closing and opening of the several switches 1 2 3 and 4* thereby successively energizing and tie-energizing the several magnets 21 and thus elfect successive opening and closing of the several slide valves 15 and consequent successive discharge of the contents of the hoppers D. I 1: will be understood however that the relative spacing of the projections p may be varied as occasion may require, their spacing being such as to synchronize opening of the valves 15 and dispensing of the contents of the several hoppers D with the commencement of or during the several washing periods above designated as controlled by the timer G.

Since there are occasions when it may be necessary to supplement the materials delivered by the dispensing hopper D a compartment 5 is provided which compartment is open at its upper end .to the top of the housing A and also opens at its lower end to the hopper 9 whereby any desired substance may be manually supplied to the latter at any time irrespective of the dispensing hopper D.

The compartment .5 is particularly serviceable in permitting the delivery of a desired substance to the washing machine as occasion may require.

As a means for adapting the hoppers D to dispensing either solids or liquids, or both, the slide valve 15 thereof is sealed relative to the outlet 14. This is here shown as accomplished by a resilient packing band 24 bearing on the upper face of the valve 15 along the inner face of the hopper wall defining the outlet 14, the band '24 being mounted in a continuous channel r on the underside of a frame 25 carried on the interior of the discharge end of the hopper D.

A corrugated strip spring it bears between the bottom of the channel rand a follower strip t seating on the band 24 throughout the length of the latter, the spring s acting to maintain the band in sealing contact with the slide valve 15 so as to prevent leakage of liquid from the hopper when the valve 15 is closed.

In the operation of the invention a suitable quantity of a selected clothes cleaning agent, preferably in a soluble granular or powdered form, such as a soap or detergent, or a bleaching agent, is placed in one or more of the dispensing hoppers D preliminary to setting the washing machine in operation,-the materials being measured and placed in one or more of the several hoppers according to the determined requirements of a particular clothes washing operation. a

In some instances it is desirable to supply a particular cleansing or bleaching agent to the machine for each of the several washing periods here designated as the Prewash soak period, the Wash period, the First deep rinse period and the Second deep rinse period, in which event selected materials are placed in each of the several hoppers. However in some instances it maybe necessary to introduce washing materials into the machine other than each of the fourdesignated periods, such as during the pre-wash and wash periods only in which event the desired materials are supplied to the appropriate hoppers.

In some instances the supplied materials may be in liquid form, and in some cases where it is desired to at least semi-liquify the soluble granular substances prior to their discharge from the hoppers and also as a means for flushing the latter, a quantity of water may be placed in a hopper together with the soluble substances.

Having charged the selected dispensing hoppers D with the desired substances, the switch 0 is closed thereby setting the washing machine in operation through the medium of an electric motor powered by a circuit through conductors w controlled by the switch 0 in the usual manner. At the same time electric current is directed through the motor of the timer G thus driving the timing shaft F and collectively rotating the dispenser controlling disks E, thereon. As before stated rotation of the disks E operates through the cams p thereon to suc cessively close the switches 1 2 3 and 4 at spaced apart intervals .synchronized with the several Washing periods which operation successively energizes the solenoid magnets 21 and effects opening of the valves 15 of the several dispensing hoppers; the switches 1 2 3 and 4* each being held closed a sufficient length of time to allow the contents of the hoppers to discharge and then closing to effect de-energization of the magnets and closing the valves 15 under the urge of the springs 17.

The materials discharged from the dispensing units D are deposited in the main hopper 9 and are delivered from the latter into the washing compartment of the machine with which the intake 12 communicates.

Opening of a valve 15 by the magnet 21 causes the bumper blocks 23 to impact the dispensing unit to impart a jar thereon such as to insure dislodgement of materials tending to cling to the walls of the unit.

On de-energizing of the magnet 21, which occurs when the cam p on the timing disk E clears the switch arm n thereby allowing the latter to move to its open position and thus break the circuit to the magnet, the valve 15 is restored to its closed position under the urge of the springs 17. The dispensing unit is then conditioned in readiness for another operation.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been set forth, the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a detergent dispensing appliance for washing machines having a detergent intake, a dispensing unit having a discharge outlet, means for delivering materials from said discharge outlet to said detergent intake, a hopper embodied in said dispensing unit having inclined walls leading to said discharge outlet, a slide valve controlling said outlet, spring means connected to said slide valve urging the valve to its closed position, a resilient block carried by an inclined wall of said hopper against which said valve abuts when moved to its closed position by said spring means, and means for opening said valve at timed intervals.

2. In a detergent dispensing appliance for washing machines having a detergent intake, a dispensing unit having a discharge outlet, means for delivering materials from said discharge outlet to said detergentintake, a hopper embodied in said dispensing unit having inclined walls leading to said discharge outlet, a slide valve controlling said outlet, spring means normally closing said valve, means for moving said valve to an advanced open position in opposition to said spring means, and resilient blocks limiting advance movement of said valve arranged to impart cushioned impacts on said hopper on opening of said valve.

3. In a detergent dispensing appliance for washing machines having a detergent intake, a dispensing unit having a discharge outlet, means for delivering materials from said discharge outlet to said detergent intake, a hopper embodied in said dispensing unit having inclined walls leading to said discharge outlet, a slide valve controlling said outlet, spring means normally closing said valve, means for moving said valve to an advanced open position in opposition to said spring means, and resilient blocks carried by said valve arranged to jar said hopper at the instant of full opening of said valve.

4. In a detergent dispensing appliance for washing machines having a detergent intake, a dispensing unit having a discharge outlet, means for delivering materials from said discharge outlet to said detergent intake, a hopper embodied in said dispensing unit having inclined walls leading to said discharge outlet, a slide valve controlling said outlet, guideways on said hopper in which said valve is mounted, spring means normally closing said valve, means for opening said valve at timed intervals adapted to hold the valve open for an interval of time, and resilient blocks carried by said valve arranged to impact said guideways and thereby jar said hopper at the instant of full opening of said valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,541 Hutchings May 15, 1934 2,460,605 Soissa Feb. 1, 1949 2,539,780 Hall Jan. 30, 1951 2,657,628 Von Stoeser Nov. 3, 1953 2,658,645 Harris g Nov. 10, 1953 

